Orford Selectboard approves scholarship appointments, signs tax forms and hears fire-department update

The Orford Selectboard on May 13 voted to appoint four people to the town’s scholarship committee, completed several tax and abatement actions and heard updates on public-safety and infrastructure matters.

Kevin Follensbee moved — and Larry Taylor seconded — a motion to appoint Jennifer Hebb, Laura Taylor, Charles Newton and Stephanie Gulick to three-year terms on the Orford Scholarship Committee; the motion passed 3–0. The board also completed Timber Tax Rating Worksheets for Mark Miller, Jennifer Whitney and Susan Beeson and approved and signed tax abatements for properties at 41 East Cemetery Road, w/s Route 10 and 833 Route 10. Land Use Change Tax forms were approved for multiple parcels, with recorded amounts including $6,684 for 136 Coyote Run and $32,487 for the property on s/s Prettyman Road; the minutes list other parcel amounts as well.

Chief Sanborn reported the Fire Department’s April activity: 21 calls for service (nine medical calls, two motor vehicle crashes, one wires-down incident, one fire alarm and one grass fire) and seven mutual-aid responses. Sanborn told the board the new fire truck was delivered April 18; the radio and bumper/winch work were completed April 20, additional springs were added May 12, and lettering and equipment remain to be installed. The department provided pump training on the new apparatus and placed the vehicle in service after the initial installations. The board said the department’s old rescue truck will be placed for sale on a fire-equipment–specific listing.

Police Department activity for April was left by Chief Bachus in the meeting materials: 138 calls for service, including 74 motor-vehicle stops and 14 summonses issued.

On capital and infrastructure items, Taylor reported an $8,750 estimate to pave the Town Office; because a warrant article approved $25,000 for paving, Taylor said he would ask the contractor to extend the paved area. Follensbee and Taylor reviewed Mousley Brook bridge guard rails and agreed repairs could be completed for under $2,500; the Highway Department will be involved in next steps. The board also discussed ongoing removal of decking and I-beams at the Archertown Road crossing over Jacobs Brook and noted vandalism at the work site (barriers pushed into the brook and a displaced portable toilet) with no monetary loss reported.

Follensbee told the board there is approximately 400–500 gallons of waste oil at the recycling center and that he is coordinating with Clean Harbor to test and remove the oil because the barrel is beginning to rust. The minutes state the removal will depend on testing by the contractor.

Other business included review of a Notice of Intent to Cut Wood for property owner Orian Welling (forester listed as Tracy Burns), receipt of an email from Ann Green about an informational meeting on a proposed Community Nurse (scheduled May 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Congregational Church), and a FEMA notice about an online meeting to review flood-plain maps on June 9 at 9:00 a.m. Charles Smith said he would forward FEMA information to Planning Board members.

The board reviewed manifests, payroll and accounts-payable folders and then voted to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II(a) for personnel matters at 7:30 p.m.; the board resumed the public meeting at 7:49 p.m., voted to seal the non-public minutes, and adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

The minutes were signed and filed as recorded.